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Sam Adams beer manufacturer pulls out of South Boston St. Patrick’s Day parade

The makers of Sam Adams beer on Friday announced they are backing out of sponsoring South Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day parade in protest over parade organizers' refusal to allow members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community to march in the parade.

“We were hopeful that both sides of this issue would be able to come to an agreement that would allow everyone, regardless of orientation, to participate in the parade,” The Boston Beer Company said in a statement. “But given the current status of the negotiations, we realize this may not be possible. We share these sentiments with Mayor Walsh, Congressman Lynch and others and therefore we will not participate in this year’s parade.”

Parade organizers said to CBS Boston, “... they presented only one supposed Veteran and a group of others carrying rainbow flags. When asked about a Color Guard, their (lone) Veteran replied that he wasn’t sure he could supply any more Veterans willing to march.”